Will of John Norman, Salem, Essex County, New England, 27 Apr 1713

John Norman. Will proved & allowd – Salem

In the name of God Amen

I John Norman of Salem in the County of Essex in New England shipwright, Being weak & sick of body but of perfect Disposing Mind & Memory thro [sic] God's Mercy Doe [sic: do] make this my Last will & testamt [testament] renouncing & revoking all former or other wills & testaments.

Impr [Imprimis] I Doe bequeath & Resigne[?] up my Soul to God that gave it me hopeing [sic] In his Mercy & Salvation thro the merritts [sic] of Jesus Christ my only Saviour & Redeemer & my Body to the Earth Desireing [sic] a Decent buriall [sic]

and as to my Estate In this world the Little that God hath given mee [sic] I Dispose of as followeth

Item My will is that all my Just Debts which I Doe owe together with my Charge of sickness & funeral be Duely & Truely [sic] satisfied & paid

Item I Doe Give to my Dear Loving wife Mary my whole Estate both Reale or personall [sic] dureing [sic] her Life Time to be for her support In her Weak Condition so much as she shall have occasion for for her Comfortable Subsistance [sic]

Item I Doe give to my Daughter Abigaile Green what shall be left after my Wives [sic] Decease of this my homestead wth [with] all the Land that belongs to it with Two Thirds of the household Goods that my Wife shall Leave at her Decease shee [sic] paying fifteen pounds [£15] to my Granddaughter Mary Norman & her proportion of Debts & Charges. That is to say my homestead that Lyes [sic] westward of the Way Into my Shipp Yard Is that that I give to my said Daughter Green

Item I doe give to my Grand Daughter Mary Norman all of my peice [sic] of Ground that Is to the Eastward of the Way into my said shipp Yard which the Barn stands on [____] foot to the westward of my said Barn said line beginning att the sheet[?] & to run southward down to the [sand pit?] I Doe give said peice of Land with the said Barn & fifteen pounds [to] my Daughter Abigaile is to pay her said Mary Norman paying her proportion of the Debts & Charges according to what shee hath. Shee is also to have a third of the household goods that my Wife Leaves on her Decease

Lastly I Doe make Mary My Belovd Wife Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament Desireing my son & Daughter Green to assist her. I Doe hereby give my Wife power to Call in all my Debts that are oweing [sic] to mee [sic] any Wage, Bills, or Mony [sic], or Money or other Debts, shee [sic] adviceing [sic: advising] In all Difficulties with the overseers of the my will and Doe Desire my kind neighbores & freinds [sic] Mr. Jno [John] Pickering and Simon Willard to be overseers of this my Last will & testament & to assist my Executrix In what shee may have occassion of help.

In witness to the above I have hereunto set my hand & Seale this Twenty Seventh Day of Aprill one Thousand Seven hundred Thirteen [27 Apr 1713]

(signed) John Norman
Verte[?]

John Norman Signed Sealed & Declard [sic] This To be his Last Will & Testament In presence of us

(signed) William Lycombe
(signed) Ebenezer Glover
(signed) Simon Willard

• Essex County Court House Registry of Probate: Salem, Massachusetts. Probate Record (1713-1716), Vol 311, Book 11, Pages 11-12.